In an era where technology continuously shapes the boundaries of human interaction with the natural world, Flox has taken a bold step forward. The deeptech wildlife intelligence company, emerging from AI research at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, has secured a seed funding round of nearly $1 million. This funding aims to propel Flox’s innovative solutions that focus on smarter, safer coexistence with wildlife, using advanced robotics and AI. Such innovations are crucial as the world grapples with increasing human-wildlife conflicts, necessitating immediate interventions to safeguard both nature and human endeavors.
Flox’s approach is not entirely new but has evolved significantly with the advent of AI. Earlier attempts at resolving human-wildlife conflicts often relied on physical barriers and manual surveillance, which faced limitations in scalability and effectiveness. With Flox’s Edge device, these challenges are addressed through autonomous operations and real-time adaptive bioacoustics. Unlike traditional methods, the devices communicate directly with wildlife, guiding them away from critical infrastructure without disruption.
How Does the Edge Device Work?
The Flox Edge device operates autonomously, powered by an onboard AI system, which enables it to detect wildlife instantly and deploy species-specific acoustic signals. Eliminating the need for physical barriers, these battery-operated devices effectively protect remote areas across various sectors such as agriculture, railways, and aquaculture, ensuring nonstop preservation of infrastructures and ecosystems.
Who is Supporting Flox’s Mission?
The funding round was led by Unconventional Ventures, which emphasized the urgency and scalability of Flox’s solution for human-wildlife conflicts. Nora Bavey, General Partner at Unconventional Ventures, highlighted the team’s extensive sector expertise and early successes underlining Flox’s mission and potential. The backing by reputable investors, including Norrsken Accelerate and returning Pre-Seed participants, reaffirms confidence in Flox’s approach.
“Flox is the first company that truly aims to understand and speak the language of wild animals—this innovation holds transformative implications on industry-nature interactions,” said Sara Nozkova, CEO, and Co-founder. The integration with partners like WWF and Alstom further signifies the broad application and adoption of Flox’s technology across multiple sectors and geographies.
After four years of dedicated research and trials in partnership with wildlife scientists, Flox is poised to expand its commercial solutions, with a keen emphasis on the United States. This phase of growth is supported by both venture capital and non-dilutive grants, facilitating further R&D and broad deployment of their technology.
Combining academic insights with practical applications, Flox seeks to redefine human-wildlife coexistence, starting with high-risk environments like airports and transportation hubs. The financial boost aims to extend both the reach and depth of their expansion efforts, enabling safer human-nature interactions globally.
While traditional efforts at resolving human-wildlife conflicts have often been fragmented and localized, Flox represents a shift towards scalable, integrated solutions that leverage modern technologies. The success of its deployment could set a precedent for other tech-driven initiatives aimed at solving environmental challenges effectively.
